Buffing wheel



Aug- 19, 1952 J. F. LESLIE 21,607,171

BUFFING WHEEL Filed OCC. 26, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET l :l :HELE I L/of/V v ma/WMM@ #Trag/VEN:

J. F. LESLIE BUFFING WHEEL Aug. 19, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Oct. 26, 1949 INVENTOR. l. 554/5. mw@

JOHN ff".

TTOEAJ YS.

the-buff and forming a part of the peripheryr of the buff. Since the segmentsfare formed of cloth `Vand are folded individually into substantially lPatented ug. 19, 1952 UNI TED .STATES PATEN OFF] 2,"607171 VV-BUFFIINTG WHEEL Johnrmeslie, Mishawaka, 1mi.

YApplication October 26, 1949;.`Seial'No. 123,738

'T1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements .1in bufting Wheels, and'more particularly to the type of "buing wheelas illustrated in'my Patent fNo. 2,460,588, dated February 1, -1949,wherein ia plurality of segments formed #of -fabric or Vthe like are detaohably`` anchored at Y the margin of a metal disc'to form the bufling portionbf `the 'the segments havevthisskirt form, vtlreircenters ,A

`are-hollow and there is-a lack of -soliditysand 'firmness crosswise of 'the segments.

Another disadvantage of suchfprior devcesis Ithe fact that they are difficult to assemble. .The individual vcharacter vof the segments V'and r`the tendency of those segments, vwhile stationary andbeing assemb1ed,tomove one relative tothe otheryespecially if hooked to a center support,

vpresentsv some problems and requires lthe exercise of care'andthe expenditure of a greater amountof timetoassemblethe buifvwheel than lofthe buff segments, after assembly,`be vshaped so as to define an arcuate surface concentric with skirt form and are'characterized by substantial "flexibility and limpness in usual form,` the operation of breaking in a buffis quite difficult. This operationV requires, in addition to the' trimming of the peripheraledge to the desired shape to define the arcuate-peripheral surface, a treatment to cause the bu Wheel to maintain the foldsv of the fabric constant to provide the de-f sired peripheral surface. 'nother-wordslifnthe buff is merely-'trimmedand thenis istoppedQit 'Willbe found upon re-starting the fsarne 'that Y.

"the folds of the cloth may be'arrangeddiierently upon the Vrei-starting sol that the 'true arcuatefsurface, to which the `wheel had lpr'eviou`.'sly:been trimmed,-is no longer!uriiformly'true,andrequires additional truing. lCimsequently,l before a .Wheel caribe-considered tobelbrokenin, itis neces.- sary, not only that it shall be trimmed, but'th'atit Ice-used fora suiiicientr` period ofctimeso thatthe bufngV compound will havefimpregnatedtthe cloth layers to Vran`- extent-sufficient l to! result l in filling of the buff Wheeliandsettingithefolds-of the buff segments. 'While this breaking"in operation is occurring, the -:production :of "the -Worker .usingvthe buff wheel is -held to afsm'all amount. Y i

Stillother i disadvantages of fbufs vofzth-is, character are that they are not generally. constructed toY rapidly dissipate *heat generated int use, :and 1 that Ithey lack A uniformity of `wear at :the ibuif "layers-thereof. i

It is the primary object of this :inventionito provider a lbuif'foi* theitypetutilizingf peripheral-aseg- "men'ts `detachably anchored'to :a rigid center member which overcomes the disadvantages `.mentioned above.

A further objectisitogprovide'a novelmember for supporting the fabric body of a buff segment 4in i'desired fform and fior .-:vdetachably 1 anchoring 4the segmenti tol :the .centerimembercf abuff.

LA furtherfzobjeet is tio 1 provide a buff-segment of folded i skirtelike fconstruction, Whichf is `vsubstantially f of uniform :density throughout all crosssections,.and particularly to;y provide; uff

segment of this characteriwithanovelf :mounting-iaffillerzzinsermtherein.

A further: object'fis topprovide 3a huff member v.which iis :composed .-'of sa plurality i ofV buff Eseg- .ments,1 eachlhaving ,securinggmeansfforfconnec tion'to 'a center .plate ..-andssecu1ed together-n `ran endless -.be1t;.to. facilitate :assembly ofi-.fthe -completelbuiiwheelto.'reinforceandystrenethen '.the" fabricofithe segmentsfriand to-V increase, the life:- and wearingi properties. of fthe bufngf wheel. further objectis ato: provide azibufng Hwheel Shaving :fabric #skirt type bufng Azelen'ients anchoredtocazcenterimembeh Whel'enzfthC-"lds Y of'fthefskiit portion: arepreformed tand ,maintain theiriishape, .so as to expedite Lathe operation `:of breaking in@ thepfbuifandzto. reduce? theitimere- 4"omired for: the breaking-'dn ioperation.

`"A'-fu'rtheruobject is to provide fambuff fof this characteri having aznovelV construction-ofV center member providingaa rmsanchorage 'forfbuffgsegments, thereof :,andiwalso providingLv abutmentssurfaces.. tending z-.toastabilize and'imaintainzsthein- .divi'dual'buflingisegmentsgin .proper position.

Aisfurtheriobject isaitogprovidea bufllg Wheel means-for.

3 of this character having a rigid center member with peripheral hooks adapted to engage eyes carried by the fabric buff segments, with novel means normally retained in place by the hooks for preventing disengagement of the eyes from said hooks.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel positioning means for holding individual buff segments 4in desired position in skirted form and characterized by shoulders for draping the skirt, a restricted'neck for anchoring the skirt, and a projecting apertured head for engagement with an attachment hook. Y f

Other objects will be apparent from the following specilcation. In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a face View of aI buffing wheel emintermediate portion of an edge of the plate.

i The hooks are preferably so formed that the adbodying my invention, with parts thereof broken away.

line2-2 ofFigl... i s

Fig. 3 is aface v iewof one of the buff segments. Fig. 4 is' an enlarged fragmentary detail sectional view of a buff segment taken on line li-f of"Fig.-3. f-

Fig. 5 is a fragmentaryface Viewof a modied form ofcenter plate.

Fig. 6, is a fragmentary detailsectional View taken online B-Bof Fig. 5; l

.Fig. 7 is a'fragmentary detail sectional View taken on line 'If-I of Fig. 5., Y

. Fig. 8 is a view of, a portion of the edge of the center plate illustrated in Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged perspective viewof a .buff foundation member.

. Fig.` 10 is a sectional view taken on line ID-ID of..Fig. 9, illustrating the manner in which the fabric of the buff is carried by the, member illustrated in Fig..9.

Fig. 11 is apview of broken away. f

Fig. 12 is a schematic illustrationof the manner in whichv the buff segment lshown in Fig. 10 is folded.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. l-to 4, the numeral IIJ designates a center platewhich is provided with integral hook members I2 Whichengage-the eye portions I4 carried centrallyV by a-plurality. of adjacent skirt type fabric bung segments i6.

The plate lll isrpreferablyformed of metal but may be formed of plastic, wood orany other suitable material characterized by rigidity and strength. The plate has a ,centralapertureA i8 adapted to receive and fit around the arbor (not shown) of a conventional buff device. In this Fig. 2 is a transverse ,sectional view taken on amodiiied embodiment of a buff segment, said view being taken with parts jacent peripheral edge plane of the plate extends tangent to the outermost curved portion of the hook.

The individual segments i6 are preferably formed from a plurality of cloth discs 20, as best seen in Fig. 3, which cloth discs are superimposed, one upon another, concentrically and are stitched together adjacent their center, as at 22, best seen in- Fig. ,4. rShe-cloth discs may be of the same size or of. slightly different sizes or diameters, and thecloth-Will preferably constitute woven cotton sheeting of the type commonly used in the art for the purpose of making .bufng wheels. If desired,'a small central layer 24 of canvas, burlap or other material, somewhat stiffer than the sheets l2, may besecured to the center thereof, as by stitching 22. The burlap preferably bears against an elongated rigid plate 26 which may be formed Vof metal, plastic or the like. The length of the plate 2S is preferably greater than the length of the hook members I2 and shorter than 'the length of the straight edge portions of the plate l0. The plate 26 preferably has a continuous substantially perpendicularly bent peripheral flange 28 formed integrally therewith. The plate unit 26, 28 forms shoulders around which the sheet material 2B, 24 of the individual e buff sections may be draped to form a skirt porconnection it will be understood that the buing Wheelcommonly comprises a plurality'of units or,

assemblies of the character illustrated in Figs. land 2 which are positioned side by side upon the arbor so as to provide an overall or composite bufling Wheel of desired axial thickness or di- -mension The plate l0 is preferably of. polygonal shape. The plate is here illustrated as having seven sides or edges equiangularly disposed and of equal length. The seven sided plate is illustrative only, and it will be understood that the plate may have any selected number of edges. In general it may be said that the lengths of the edges of the plates will preferably be substantially the same in all figures or shapes; that is, if the plate IB is an Octagon, then each individual edge thereof will be of the same length as the spaced from the tion, as illustrated in section in Figs. 1 and 2.

A rigid plate 3B of substantially the same dimensions as the plate 26 enages the buff section at the surface thereof opposite the plate 26. The two plates 26 and 30 have registering holes formed therein, and holes in the fabric sheets 20, 24 likewise register therewith so as to receive eye members, as best seen in Fig. 4, which eye members preferably include an elongated portion 32, a pair of `transverse portions 34 which pass through the apertures in said plates and fabric, and inwardly bent end portions 36 which are positioned within the confines of the flanges 28 of the plate 26. The eye member is formed of wire or other material which will retain its shape and in use. The portion 32 of the eye is preferably plate 30 a distance sufficient to permit thehook I2 to be received between said parts with a snug iitwhich will permit manual hooking and unhooking of the parts. c

vlit will be observed that by reason of the elon- .gatedf character ofthe member 26, 28, the skirt segments are of elongated cross-sectional form, as best illustrated in Figs. l and 2. When these skirt-like segments are attached to the center plate l0 by means of the hook and eye arrange- `ment described, the long transverse dimensionlof each segment will lie substantially parallel to the center member IU. Consequently, the dimensions or proportions of the device will be of the order illustrated in Fig. 2, the unit being narrow compared to its diameter, and eachrof the segments lying in substantiallyl acoinmon plane. vIt will be understood that the fabric dises-*or members -20 are formed of a dimension which substantially exceeds the length of each edge portion of the center plate I0 so that the adjacent segments abut valong radial portions 38. The abutment of these segment portions further assists in bunchingthe skirted fabric so that .the peripheral edges of the sheets of the fabric 2i! which make up the member are compactly arranged.

` The radial abutting portions of adjacent seg,- ments VAmay be 'stitched together, as illustrated at '40,1 thus forming a continuous endless belt which is p'reassembled from the. various ysegments. sity of handling the individual .segmentsin applying the fabric peripheral `portion. to the center Mplate I0 and removing the same fromv said center plate. The stitching 4D, as best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, Vlies substantially in alignment .with the eye member 32, 34, .36 and constitutes at each occurrence thereof a radially reinforced or stiifened portion. However, the beltmay be Yformed by circular lines of stitching adjacent to the eye member. It will be apparent that the major portions of the fabric sheets 20 which makeup the skirted fabric segment are free from one another and assumeindividual folded` shapes. This stitching, and lparticularly radial stitching 43, concentrates compactly `the,

fabric segments at .selected portions ,thereof to increase therigidity, strength andA firmness of the bufng wheel as a unit. The radial stitches 40 do Vnot interfere with or rigidity. the portions of theskirt between said, radial portions Y38, and the individual layers of fabric are freel to assume individual folded form with the foldsV extending radially of the wheel and being arranged differently in each sheet in the relation or arrangement produced .by the action of .centrifugal force. This arrangement commonly is such that a myriad of radial channelsorgpassagesare formed in theY buff segment between the individual layers of fabric thereof, the same being substantially uniformly distributed throughout the body of the buff. These. radial channels or passages provide means for receiving and retaining the buing material whichis applied to the bufng wheel Ain use and also to assistv in cooling of the buinng segments.

vIt will be observed in Fig. 2 at the .lower portion thereof that thesegments, when folded.

around the plate portion 2B, 28, have.:V located therein a cavity 42 between the peripheral edge of the segment and the plate ,216, This cavity will be of a length equal to the length of the plate 26 adjacent to the. plate. This cavity 42 constitutes a VentilatingV and insulating cavity within each segment. rIhe fabricsheets possess porosity so air may pass therethrough. Consefluently, by virtue of the centralA location ofthe cavity 42 and the arrangement of myriad radial channels between the individualsheets or laminations making up the segment, air. circulation is permitted throughout the body of thesegment. This air circulation or breathing of the segmentsfdissipates excessiveheat generated during thebuiing operation and reduces to a minimum the possibility that the article being buffed, such asa plated metal part, will be ,damaged because of excessive heat. y

I vThe preformedbelt, formed by stitching together individual segments, is easy to handleand greatly reduces the,y time required toVV mount .the

Piehalfalffsegments. `.urenleach. plate1k mgcncis..

This arrangement eliminates the necesa` mount or disconnect said .segments fromsaid plate. Each segment is positioned or stabilized by the adjacent segments, and the `different lsegments cooperate, one with another, vto hold vthe belt unit in proper position substantially within the planeof the center plate. This is quite important in a buff of thischaracter because itwill be .apparent that, if a single buff as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is positioned vertically, that is, with its axis horizontal, Ithe .segments positioned uppermost, if independent of one another .and held in place solely by frictional engagement withadjacent segments, are unbalanced .and unstable. Thus, the hooked connection and sup-v port of, each upperA segment upon thecenter plate is .positionedbelow its center ofi gravity. The .increased stability ,of the unit wherein the segments are vstitched vtogether greatlyreduces the amount of time required to assemble and make up a full buing wheel vfrom a plurality of sections of the character illustrated in Figs. l and 2.

The stability of the mounting of the segments I6 upon the center plate l0 can be increased by constructing the center plate I0 in a manner illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, In this construction the center plate Ill-has a plurality, of lateral offsets 44 formed in the marginal portion thereof in equispaced and equiangular relation. Each offset 44 is preferably located centrally with respect to one of the at edge portions thereof, as illustrated in Fig. 5. The hook portions I2 areY formed integrally with and project centrally from the outer edge of the offset 4 4, as illustrated in Fig. 5. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the offsets 44 extend in a plane parallel to the plane of the metal plate l0 and are offset in a direction opposite to the direction in which the terminal or tongue portion I3 of the hook l2' extends. y

Each olfset 44, as illustrated in Fig. 5, isv of such a dimension or size that it exceeds thel size of the adjacent hook l2', extending beyond the sides and the free inner edgev of the tongue I3 of said hook by a dimension greater than the thickness of the stock from which the eye members 32-38 of the different segments are formed. The offset portions 44 are slotted at 46at opposite sides of the hooks l2 so that the hook may be bent in such a fashion that its voutermost sur.-` face will lie substantially in a plane common to the plane of the adjacent edgeof the polygonal plate, asbest seen in Figs. 5, 6 and 7.

Observe in Fig. 6 that the eye portion 32 of the segment I6 lies substantially in a common plane with the disc I 0. This construction results in a balance of the buff segments when assembled with respect to the plane of the segments, it being apparent that the centrifugal force, exerted by the segments I6 upon rotation, is exerted.. in the plane of the disc l0. The provision of the offsets 44 has the additional-function and advantage of providing greater stability of the buff segments at :the point of contact thereof with the disc I0. Observe in this connection that in the construction illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the plate 3l] illustrated in Fig. 4 has been omitted from the buff segments, .and the fabric thereof bears directly against the edge of the plate. Inlasmuch as the offset 44 has the eifect of widening the edge of the plate, itincre'ases Ithe stability vof the segment and reduces the likelihood that it will tilt out of the plane of the plate when connected to the plate by the hook `and .eye construction. The. fact that the edge.;oi this. vconstr-usine :is the. equivalent arcani Wider' .pl-ate, or produces the 'equivalent of arwidel point of contact between the plate and the `buff segment, is illustrated in Fig. 8. It will be. apparent from Fig. 8 that the points of contact between the bui segments and the edge are laterally spaced at different positions along the length of the contact or abutment of the parts, thus producing the stability above mentioned. This stability is of particular importance in cases where the segments retain their individual character, that is, in .cases Where the segments are not stitched together.

In :the assembly of each individual section or portion of the buff, and before the different buff sections are mounted upon their common arbor, it is desirable to provide means to prevent disconnection of the segments and their connecting eyes from 'the hooks of the center plate. Novel means for this purpose are `illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the same constituting a disc 48 formed of sheet material tending normally to retain its shape, but having a certain degree of flexibility. I have found that a disc which is well suited for this purpose may be formed from cardboard or chipboard. Other materials, such as plastic sheet material, metal sheet material or the like, may be employed, if desired. The disc 48 has a center opening 50 adapted to register with the aperture l8 and sto nt around the arbor (not shown) of a bufng machine. The size or diameter of the disc 48 is less than the diameter of the plate l and is preferably slightly greater than the spacing of 4the inner edges of the lips lf3 from the center of the plate l0. Consequently, when the disc 48 lies a-t against the plate In, it will underlie the hook tongues i3 at its margin, as illustrated in Fig. 6, thus obstructing or closing the mouth of the hook to prevent, or at least retard, the passage of the eye member 32 through the mouth of the hook. The disc 50 preferably is severed along a radial line at 52. This severing of the disc permits the flexing thereof to the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 5, which brings the outer edge of one end portion of said disc to a radially inwardly spaced position clear of the inner end of the lip of the adjacent hook, as illustrated in Fig. 7, thus facilitating the insertion and rem-oval of the d-is'c 48 relative to the plate I0. As shown in Fig. 7, the inward deflection of the end of the member 48 is entailed by reshaping the same to substantially conical form, which can easily be done in the case of a cardboard or paper disc. Thus it will be apparent that, when thedisc 48 is to be inserted, it may be so manipulated that the edge portions circumferentially are successively inserted under the hook lips, which, of course, is easily accomplished with respect to one half of the disc, and then, by twisting the `disc slightly, the remaining portions `of the disc can be inserted under the remaining hooks and thereupon the disc can be released and restored to its normal fiat condition. In this case it will lie flat against the plate IB and will underlie and engage the inner faces of the lips I3 of the hooks. The size of the disc will preferably be such that while it may have a certain free play or clearance, nevertheless that free play or clearance will not be sufficient to permit unintentional release thereof from the plate.

The `construction of buff segments, and particularly of the means for mounting the same, may be substantially simplified, as illustra-ted in Figs. 9, l0 and ll. In this construction a single metal anchor member may be assembled with the fabric buff member being applied thereto easily and quickly and Without substantial processing as is required to effect the assembly illustrated in Fig. 4. For this purpose a metal plate or member 54 may be formed and applied as a unit to the fabric disc. Such plate preferably has an elongated shoulder portion 56 of the length required to define the `desired length of the inner end of the segment to abut against an edge of the disc IU. The elongated shoulder portion 56 is characterized by inner curved edges 58 around which the cloth may fold at the ends of the plate. A projection 60 is formed at ythe :center of the member 54 at one side thereof, the same preferably having outwardly converging edge portions 62 at its opposite ends extending for a portion only of the width of the projection 60, and inwardly converging edge portions 64. The portions 62 and 64 define shoulders 63 fat their junctions. At their inner ends the edge portions 6-4 merge at rounded or curved portions 66 Iwith the inner edge of the shoulder portions 56. 'An elongated slot 68 is formed in the projection 60 with its inner edge preferably located slightly inwardly spaced relative to shoulders 63, and with its outer edge located outwardly of said shoulders 63.

In the fabrication of the segment the individual fabric discs 20', as best seen in Fig. 10, are slotted at 10 at their center, said slot being of a length equal to or slightly greater than the reduced neck of the member 54, that is, the dimension of said member between the opposed curved edge surfaces 66 thereof. The length of said slot is slightly less than the spacing between the shoulders 63. The various layers of the fabric are stitched together at 12 around the slot 'I0 and preferably one or more reinforcing layers 'i4 of burlap, canvas or the like, are stitched at the center of each bufng segment, being provided with a slot registering with the slot 10. In the assembly of the buff segment it is necessary only to force the slot 'l0 over the shoulders 63 so that the ends thereof bear against and are urged inwardly by the edges 64, with the inner surface of the buff segment, and especially the reinforcing portion T4, bearing flat against the shoulder portion 56. The parts are preferably so proportioned that the inner edge of the slot 68 will be substantially flush with the outer buff fold or bend, or that the slot will be partially spanned by said fabric. This will insure that, when the slot 68 receives the hook i2 of the plate i0, the fabric will be caused to bear against the adjacent edge of the plate l0.

It will be observed that this construction simplifies the assembly of each complete bufling segment, reduces labor and costs, holds the segment in the desired shape, that is, permits the skirt to be formed with the desired drape around the curved edges 58 of the shoulder portions 56, and, in general, offers substantial advantages in fabrication.

One of the difficulties of a skirted type of buffing segment of the character described is that the folding of the skirt to the elongated form shown causes a bunching of the fabric at the ends, as illustrated in Fig. l2, with the result that the end portions thereof are more solid than the center portion. For the purpose of improving the construction of the buff segments and rendering their consistency more uniform, it is desirable to use fillers in the nature of c loth inserts. Such cloth inserts may be applied in different ways. Referring to the construction illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, the elongated portion 56 of the member the slot 16, as illustrated in Fig. 10, and may be stitched at 8,0 to anchor it in'place. The parts are of such dimension vthat the insert 18 will extend to the periphery of the fabric buff segment. The number of individual laminations or thicknesses of the fabric which make up the member 'I8 will preferably be `sufficient to impart at'the center of the bu segment the same solidity and firmness which that segment possesses at its ends. The virtue of this construction, in addition to making the unit of uniform solidity and rigidity, is this: that there shall be presented a'substantially equal numberof fabric edges uniformly at all points around the circumference so ithat the device will not be characterized by soft spots alternating between' firm or rigid spots.

A slightly alteredconstruction for accomplishing this purpose is illustrated in Fig. 11, wherein inserts 82 of multiple thicknesses of fabric-` are applied to the fabric discs 2t laterally spaced from the slot 70 and extending to the edges thereof, said inserts 82 being stitched or secured to the fabric discs 2B, as shown in Fig. 11. Inasmuch as the stitches in this instance are subjected only to force resulting from the rotation of the weight of the inserts 82, the stitching 84 will be suiiicient to withstand the stresses involved. The Fig. ll construction, therefore, performs the same results as the Fig. 10 construction, differing therefrom only with respect to the manner of securing of the insert, the form in Fig. 11 being characterized by avoidance of necessity of stitching after the buff segment or any part thereof has been applied to the metal anchor unit 54.

In all of the constructions of bu wheel segments illustrated herein, including constructions,

wherein said segments are secured together in the form of a belt and those in which the segments retain their individual character, it is desirable to preform the fabric unit. The limpness and fiexibility of the buffs which causes them. to

`assume different shapes and folds upon different successive operations until the buil' has been broken in, which commonly requires as long as an hour and a half, slow down production time. When it is considered that the average fabric buff will last only a few days, it is apparent that the requirement of an hour and a half breakin time is quite costly. Io avoid this and also to impart other desirable properties to the buff segment, I have found that it is desirable to soak the fabric buff, after it is assembled, in a material of thin paste or liquid state which will quickly penetrate the cloth. I propose to` use a laundry filler or starch mixed with water for this purpose. A number of materials are suited for this purpose. Among such materials are the ller used in domestic laundries to stufen fabrics, library paste, corn starch, a mixture of Wheat flour and gum arabic, sago flour or other starches mixed with water, and rye flour mixed with gum arabic. .AnyA other material may be used which will tend to stifen the fabric without creating any tendency to stick to the metal being buffed or to increase the heat of friction generated at the metal by the bufling operation.

Individual buff segments are preferably preshaped by .mounting them upon a centerplate corresponding to the center plate lil. lThe segments may besoakedeither before or after theyVv 10 are Ymounted on this f center. After soaking thereof, the excess iillerorliquid material-'is 'fremovjed from the :segments fto the "greatest extent possible byf'squeevzingthe same.y After assembly, soaking and removallof-excess liquid, the Vunit is mountedlupon fa rota'tablev centerarbor, such as alathegspindle'or machinemandrel, andi's rotated at a speed suiiciently high tofsubjeet the individual segments*,to centrifugal force. rotation is continued untilthe segmentsare; fully or at least partially dry, "thatfis, until the seglments are dry 'enough to holdor'retainthe radiallyfolded skirt shape of the differenti tions or layers thereof. l l I have found that thek segments, when esseci in. this mapeer, are Sherwin the"A d. Skirt. 'farm'. ,in @manner tp distribute n dees uniformly. that is' 12.654 Drei/dem@ .folds irdiidllgl hlrls Oi 19th :UD'r-,illf distrib:- uted around.iheperiphriihrifl This T"p'rvides myriad radial channels within the'buiffsegments,` and is''imp,orta'ht""fo variousY reasons. Among these reasos'aefthat thecoolopeiatifoh of the` Wheel is assured', tlfie "bufng Contact` with the "work piece i's` unifori'n so vthat 'there isY nb tendency to produce streaks, and channels are provided which facilitate the reception and retention of the buflng material. Another important advantage of the construction is that it stiifens the bu unit when dry so there is no necessity to incorporate a stiff lamination, such as the laminations 24 of Fig. 4 and 14 of Fig. 10, in the buifing :egment Various other advantages are possessed by a device shaped of this character, among which are the fact that the centrifugal shaping of the skirtlike buff segment tends to distort the weave of the cloth at all laminations and to prevent raveling. It has been observed that the centrifugal shaping causes each layer to assume an individual shape dierent from the others. This presents the warp and Woof threads of each individual layer at a slightly dierent angle to the radius of the bufng wheel compared to the others. Those layers which are so positioned that rapid raveling wouldoccur normally at a given point thereof, are protected by the adjacent layers against such rapid raveling, and the rate of raveling of the whole unit is materially reduced as compared to the rate of raveling in other constructions. Since raveling is definitely associated with wear, it will be apparent that the less the ravel, the slower the rate of wear.

Still another advantage is that a bufling wheel made up of segments which have been saturated in this manner may be trimmed to circular shape after assembly by the use of a rotary edge cutter. This is made possible by reason of the firmness and stiffness of the buff segments which will permit the proper shaping by a cutting tool, with the assurance that when the wheel is stopped, the various folds of the segment will remain in the same position they occupied while rotating, so that the peripheral surface of the buff will remain constant.

While the use of a starch or other filler is preferred, it is not necessary. Most fabrics contain a certain amount of filler added thereto during manufacture. Consequently, if the cloth segments are merely wetted and then spun, as described above, rthe layers of the cloth will assume and hold their shape, as above described, and will permit trimming, with the buff segments tending to maintain, when stationary and after being trimmed, the same folded shape as the same maintained while spun. While this process offers advantages over the use of a buff segment not so treated, insofar as reduction of break in time, etc., is concerned, I prefer the use of starch or other material, as described above, because of .the greater stiffness and rigidity secured, and the improvement of the bui segment in other respects.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described hereit will be understood that changes in the construction may be made within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

A buing wheel comprising a rigid center plate ofpolygonal shape having a central mounting aperture, a plurality of fabric buing members,

an eye carried by each buing member, an elongated inwardly return bent hook formed inte- 20 grally with said plate at the center of each edge portion thereof, the marginal portion of said plate from which said hook projects being laterallyoff-set in inwardly spaced relation to the ends of each edge portion, said hook being positioned substantially centered in the plane of said plate whereby an eye interlocked therewith is positioned substantially in the plane of said 5 plate and a centrally apertured and radially slit cardboard sheet bearing against said plate and marginally retained by said hooks.

JOHN F. LESLIE.

10 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS l5 Number Name Date 895,641 Hyatt Aug. 11, 1908 911,889 Levett Feb. 9, 1909 976,116 Beckmann Nov. 15, 1910 1,374,018 Levett Apr. 5, 1921 2,226,625 MacFarland et al. Dec. 3l, 1940 2,280,399 Garling Apr. 21, 1942 2,309,553 Twyning et al Jan. 26, 1943 Leslie Feb. 1, 1949 

